Shock absorbing exercise board

ABSTRACT

An exercise board for an operator to perform a high-impact exercise routine on a horizontal floor is provided. The portable exercise board may include a base board comprising a thin planar geometric shape; a fabric coating comprising the thin planar geometric shape, wherein the fabric coating attaches to and substantially covers an operating surface of the base board, providing a generally cooperating periphery therewith; and a plurality of shock absorbers disposed along a floor surface of the base board for operatively engaging the horizontal floor, whereby the portable exercise board has a low profile yet the floor surface of the base board does not engage the horizontal floor during use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to exercise apparatuses and, more particularly, to a shock absorbing exercise board.

Jumping rope and other jumping exercise are usually done on any available horizontal surface, which usually are hard and damaging to the lower joints and tendons of the body. This choice is made because there is no portable apparatus that properly and durably cushions the horizontal surface. Current apparatus do not have the combination of durable shock absorbing properties and handy portability. Either they are cushioned and too soft for jumping or cushioned in a bulky manner that undermines their portability.

As can be seen, there is a need for an apparatus that combines proper shock absorbing properties with lightweight, low-profile portability so as to answer the above-mentioned long-felt, long-existing, but heretofore unresolved need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a portable exercise board comprises a base board comprising a thin planar geometric shape; a fabric coating comprising the thin planar geometric shape, wherein the fabric coating attaches to and substantially covers an operating surface of the base board, providing a generally cooperating periphery therewith; and a plurality of shock absorbers disposed along a floor surface of the base board for operatively engaging a horizontal floor, whereby the portable exercise board has a low profile yet the floor surface of the base board does not engage the horizontal floor during use.

In another aspect of the present invention, a portable exercise board comprises a base board comprising a thin planar geometric shape; a fabric coating comprising the thin planar geometric shape, wherein the fabric coating attaches to and substantially covers an operating surface of the base board, providing a generally cooperating periphery therewith, wherein a spray-on fastener attaches the fabric coating to the base board, maintaining the low profile; a plurality of shock absorbers disposed along a floor surface of the base board for operatively engaging a horizontal floor, wherein a thin adhesive layer connects each shock absorber to the floor surface, maintaining the low profile and wherein a distance from the floor surface to the horizontal floor is approximately one-half inch; a protective rim attached along the cooperating periphery of the base board and the fabric coating; and a handle disposed along the cooperating periphery, wherein a distance from the floor surface to a top surface of the fabric coating is approximately less than one and one-half inch, and whereby the portable exercise board has a low profile yet the floor surface of the base board does not engage the horizontal floor during use.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a section detail view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an exercise board for an operator to perform a high-impact exercise routine on a horizontal floor. The portable exercise board may include a base board comprising a thin planar geometric shape; a fabric coating comprising the thin planar geometric shape, wherein the fabric coating attaches to and substantially covers an operating surface of the base board, providing a generally cooperating periphery therewith; and a plurality of shock absorbers disposed along a floor surface of the base board for operatively engaging the horizontal floor, whereby the portable exercise board has a low profile yet the floor surface of the base board does not engage the horizontal floor during use.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, the present invention may include an exercise board 10 for an operator 24 to perform a high-impact exercise routine on a horizontal floor 26. The exercise board 10 may provide a fabric coating 12, a protective rim 14, a base board 16 and a plurality of shock absorbers 18.

The base board 16 may be a thin planar sheet of material that can be repeatedly flexed without fracturing, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl, nylon, rubber, leather, various impregnated or laminated fibrous materials, various plasticized materials and the like. The base board 16 may be of sufficient size to accommodate use by a human being operator 24 for performing an exercise routine. The base board 16 may be generally rectangular; though, in certain embodiments, the base board 16 may be substantially square, triangular or other geometric shape so long as the base board 16 functions in accordance with the present invention as described herein.

The fabric coating 12 may be thin planar sheet of durable, non-skid fabric and/or carpeting so as to be durable enough to handle the rubbing action of a jump rope on its surface. The fabric coating 12 may provide sufficient traction for the operator 24 performing high-impact exercise routines. The fabric coating 12 may be generally the same size as the base board 16 and be attached thereto so as to substantially overlay the base board 16. The fabric coating 12 may be attached to an operator surface of the base board 16 by a thin spray-on fastener, including but not limited to spray glue or other adhesive substances, that maintains the low profile of the exercise board 10.

The protective rim 14 may be attached along a periphery of the base board 16 so as to sandwich a peripheral edge of the fabric coating 12 thereto. The protective rim 14 may be made of material that can be repeatedly flexed without fracturing, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl, nylon, rubber, leather, various impregnated or laminated fibrous materials, various plasticized materials and the like.

Each shock absorber 18 may be adapted to protect the horizontal floor 26 that the exercise board 10 rests upon, to cushion a jumping action of the operator 24, and to provide sufficient bounce back so as to give the operator 24 suitable lift when performing the jumping action. Each shock absorber 18 may be a thin planar sheet of shock-absorbing material, including but not limited to foam rubber. Each shock absorber 18 may be affixed to a floor surface of the base board 16 by a thin fastener 20, including but not limited to double-sided tape other adhesive substances, that maintains the low profile of the exercise board 10 yet prevents the floor surface from contacting the horizontal floor 26 when in use. In certain embodiments, the floor surface is ½ inch off of the horizontal floor 26. The plurality of shock absorbers 18 may be generally evenly spaced strips disposed along the floor surface so as to function in accordance with the present invention as described herein, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 6.

In certain embodiments, the exercise board 10 may provide a handle 22 disposed along its periphery.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The exercise board 10 disclosed above may be provided. The operator 24 may place the exercise board 10 so that the plurality of shock absorbers 18 faces the horizontal floor 26. Then the operator 24 may mount the fabric coating 12 and perform a high-impact exercise routine whereby the plurality of shock absorbers 18 engage the horizontal floor 26 so that the operator's 24 impacts to their ankles, knee joints, Achilles tendon and plantar Fasciitis regions are sufficiently cushioned, whilst the floor surface of the base board 16 is elevated above so as to preserve and protect the horizontal floor 26.

The high-impact exercise routines may include jumping jacks, jumping rope, running in place, push-ups, sit-ups, aerobics, yoga and the like.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable exercise board comprising: a base board comprising a thin planar geometric shape; a fabric coating comprising the thin planar geometric shape, wherein the fabric coating attaches to and substantially covers an operating surface of the base board, providing a generally cooperating periphery therewith; and a plurality of shock absorbers disposed along a floor surface of the base board for operatively engaging a horizontal floor, whereby the portable exercise board has a low profile yet the floor surface of the base board does not engage the horizontal floor during use.
 2. The portable exercise board of claim 1, further providing a protective rim attached along the cooperating periphery of the base board and the fabric coating.
 3. The portable exercise board of claim 1, further providing a handle disposed along the cooperating periphery.
 4. The portable exercise board of claim 1, wherein a thin adhesive layer connects each shock absorber to the floor surface, maintaining the low profile.
 5. The portable exercise board of claim 1, wherein a spray-on fastener attaches the fabric coating to the base board, maintaining the low profile.
 6. The portable exercise board of claim 1, wherein a distance from the floor surface to the horizontal floor is approximately one-half inch.
 7. The portable exercise board of claim 1, wherein a distance from the floor surface to a top surface of the fabric coating is approximately less than one and one-half inch.
 8. A portable exercise board comprising: a base board comprising a thin planar geometric shape; a fabric coating comprising the thin planar geometric shape, wherein the fabric coating attaches to and substantially covers an operating surface of the base board, providing a generally cooperating periphery therewith, wherein a spray-on fastener attaches the fabric coating to the base board, maintaining the low profile; a plurality of shock absorbers disposed along a floor surface of the base board for operatively engaging a horizontal floor, wherein a thin adhesive layer connects each shock absorber to the floor surface, maintaining the low profile and wherein a distance from the floor surface to the horizontal floor is approximately one-half inch; a protective rim attached along the cooperating periphery of the base board and the fabric coating; and a handle disposed along the cooperating periphery, wherein a distance from the floor surface to a top surface of the fabric coating is approximately less than one and one-half inch, and whereby the portable exercise board has a low profile yet the floor surface of the base board does not engage the horizontal floor during use. 